QuoteGeekFor the lines that stay with you.

People

When angry, count ten, before you speak; if very angry, an hundred.

— Thomas Jefferson

Colored glass marbles spill from a tipped jar in warm golden light.
Original artwork
Behind the line May contain spoilers.

Our reading

An editorial interpretation.

The advice is to wait before speaking in anger. Stronger anger calls for a longer pause. Counting offers a simple way to make room for thought before saying something hard to take back.

Context reviewed

Share this quote